Well, yes, but my point is that this is a rather unreasonable clause, since if we actually pay attention to what we can efficiently do, “have children” doesn’t even make the Top 100. So why would you possibly focus on “have children”, and treat it as a dilemma?
I interpreted that line as a cached-though / brush off, not “of course I’ve done the math, and there’s a thousand more effective things, but I still find it odd that having children can EVER be a positive act. I mean, ew, babies! Those can’t be good for the world o.o”
I suppose it’s the difference between asking “is it better to blow up the train” and asking “can it be better to blow up the train?” It’s worth noting that even if we have an obligation to create lives, our obligation to save them is easier to fulfill; but it’s still worth knowing if the two are actually equivalent.
Reading the original comment, adam does, in fact, seem to have assumed that having children would be the right choice if it mattered, so … point, I guess.
Well, yes, but my point is that this is a rather unreasonable clause, since if we actually pay attention to what we can efficiently do, “have children” doesn’t even make the Top 100. So why would you possibly focus on “have children”, and treat it as a dilemma?
I interpreted that line as a cached-though / brush off, not “of course I’ve done the math, and there’s a thousand more effective things, but I still find it odd that having children can EVER be a positive act. I mean, ew, babies! Those can’t be good for the world o.o”
I suppose it’s the difference between asking “is it better to blow up the train” and asking “can it be better to blow up the train?” It’s worth noting that even if we have an obligation to create lives, our obligation to save them is easier to fulfill; but it’s still worth knowing if the two are actually equivalent.
Reading the original comment, adam does, in fact, seem to have assumed that having children would be the right choice if it mattered, so … point, I guess.
Oooh, I like that distinction, and will try to remember it in the future :)